Florida will spend $100 million to clean up, close Piney Point

PALMETTO, Fla. — State lawmakers have secured $100 million to permanently clean up and close the former Piney Point phosphate plant.

Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes made the announcement Tuesday during a meeting with both county government and the mayors of manatee’s towns and cities.

Hopes confirmed there haven’t been any major changes to the former plant’s status since April 8. He says the steel patch that was fixed to secure the leak is holding, and the plans to move forward with an injection well are still in the works.

Scientists from Manatee, Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties, as well as local colleges and Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection are continuing to monitor the water quality around Port Manatee and the bay. Maya Burke with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program says based on the data that she is seeing right now, she is cautiously optimistic.

Read more: https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2021/05/04/florida-lawmakers-secure--100-million-to-clean-up--close-piney-point